Thursday, January 31, 2013

Pirate Blake (Christmas Catch-Up)

Just catching up on posting a few more pictures from back in December!
 
Blake got this Jake and the Neverland Pirate ship from his great grandma...it was a huge hit!!





Tuesday, January 29, 2013

A String of Bad Luck…putting things in perspective.

 
 
 
It seems lie it has just been one thing after another lately.  I have had a major string of unfortunate luck lately.  Add this with my pregnancy brain, and I have been STRESSED to the max.
Just a few to list:
-Our old house is STILL on the market (going on a year now).  We had some potential interest, with a double showing last week.  The second showing happened to be on the coldest day of the year….and the front door lock got jammed, while they were there.  Ugh.  Just our luck.  Needless to say, no offer.  The lock has since been changed, and functions much better now.  Of course the changing process was not easy...they keys that the made did not work, etc., etc.
-I dropped my phone this weekend and shattered my screen. 
-I had this fear yesterday that I didn’t turn the crock pot on, so I ran home on my lunch break.  It was a slushy, icy day.  On the way home I sled into the ditch.  Ugh.  I am OK.  Buy it was by brand new Acadia!  $550 of damage later.  Of course insurance won’t cover it.  We have a $500 deductible…so obviously we should not turn it in.
-The bills on everything are just piling up…I feel like I can’t keep up.  Two houses is too much to pay for.
-I am forgetting everything!  In addition to me not recalling if I turned the crock pot on (I did)…I am forgetting if the garage door has been shut…causing me anxiety all day long.
SERIOUSLY….enough.
Then I start feeling sorry for myself…and I think…ANNIE, you are fine.  There are people who are having a WAY harder time right now.
*I am healthy, and have a  healthy baby growing in my belly.
*I have two beautiful children who mean then world to me.
*I have a husband who loves me, is a great dad, and a hard worker.
*I have a beautiful home (well 2…but we won’t go down that road again).
*I have a new, reliable car (with a little bumper damage).
*I have family and friends that are there whenever I need something.
And on, and on, and on…
I am FINE….and this stage shall pass!!
Source: etsy.com via Annie on Pinterest
Source: facebook.com via Annie on Pinterest

Friday, January 25, 2013

Pregnancy #3 - Week 19



DATE: January 25, 2013

How far along: 19 weeks

How Big is Baby?  Baby is the size of a mango!  At about 6.0 inches long and weighing in at about 8.5 ounces.  Working on his/her five senses. Nerve cells for her sense of taste, hearing, sight and smell are developing in his/her brain.

Total Weight Gained: 3.8 pounds total.  I actually lost 0.6 pounds this week, but that is coming off of my giant gain last week…so I assume that I am just evening out!

Maternity Clothes:  Some pants here and there.  I have a pair of jeans and a pair of black skinnies.  Other than that, still in regular clothes.  I did do a little on-line maternity shopping this week though.

Sleep: good….I was tired this week!  Going to bed earlier than normal.

Best Moment of the Week: Got to watch the little peanut moving around for about 45 minutes during the “big” Ultra Sound!!  Hearing that everything looks great….and that due date remains the same.

Movement: not yet…and I am getting anxious

Food Craving: Mexican, chips and salsa

Food Aversions: none really…just not too much meat.

Morning Sickness: nope!

Gender: IDK…we held strong during the Fetal Survey U/S this week and it is still a surprise!

Symptoms: headaches here and there 

What I miss: caffeine…lots of it!

What I'm looking forward to: Feeling movement!




Thursday, January 24, 2013

Christmas Angel

Here are a couple of pictures of Olivia before we went to visit Santa this year.  She was all proud and excited, but by the time we reached to the front of the line she chickened right out and didn't want anything to do with jolly old St. Nick!
 She is STILL talking about Santa every day though (yes, on January 24)...she is obsesses and always wants to know where he is. 
 
She says "where's Santa?"
I say "North Pole"
She says "why?"
I say "making toys"
she says, "Oh...babies" (her favorite toy is a baby doll)
We have this exact same conversation EVERY SINGLE DAY! haha

Hopefully next year she can actually TELL Santa what she wants.  This year Blake relayed the message for her (so cute).


Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Birthday Cake!

These pictures are SO old...from back on December 14th at the kids b-day party.  BUT, alas, here they are!
 
Blake was SO excited about his Madagascar cake...Liv was just excited about cake in general :)

Cousin Addy, Liv, and Blake



 Digging in!


 Little Liv is always the best eater of the bunch.  Never have to worry about her getting enough :)


Friday, January 18, 2013

Pregnancy Post: 18 Weeks

 

DATE: January 18, 2013

How far along: 18 weeks

Total Weight Gained: 4.4 pounds.  (Yes, I gained 3.2 pounds in ONE week.  No, I am not sure how that happened.  I guess my body is just catching up.  My dr. told me this would happen…but I still don’t lie to see such a big gain in ONE week.  Hopefully that tapers off now and I gain at a more reasonable rate.)

Maternity Clothes:  some this week.  I have a pair of Black skinny pants and a pair of jeans that I am wearing.  My SIL is pregnant too…but due on February 14.  I gave her all of my clothes before I was pregnant…so I have to hold out until she gives them back to me!

Sleep: Fine…but my kids are up all night.  Ugh.

Best Moment of the Week: Starting to see a bit of a bump (not sure how I REALLY feel about that, but I am going to embrace it I guess).

Movement: not that I can feel yet…

Food Craving: fruity candy….skittles and licorice.  And ice cream this week too.  This MAY have been a factor in my 3.2 pound gain this week.  Last week I craved fruit.

Food Aversions: none, really

Morning Sickness: none!  Hallelujah.

Gender: IDK…not finding out this time.  I don’t have a hunch yet…

Symptoms: growing belly, itchy skin.

What I miss: caffeine…I’m getting headaches.

What I'm looking forward to: Fetal Survey US next week!





Thursday, January 17, 2013

Goodreads

Are you on Goodreads?!  I just signed up today.....if you have an account find me here!
 
I love to read...and I used to be much better about it.  Of course 2 (soon to be 3) babies, homes, work, life get in the way of my reading habit.
 
I read 16 books in 2012 and I am hoping to match that in 2013....or maybe even beat it....however, at the rate that I am going right now that is not looking good.
 
I think that my problem is the book that I am currently reading.  I am usually a Jodi Picoult fan and I hadn't read one of her earlier books...Songs of the Humpback Whale.  I have to say, this one is NOT a page turner...and I am struggling to get through it.  I am not one to quit a book, so I will stick with this one...but it wont fall onto my top 10 list!
 

 
What are you reading?  Any suggestions for book that I should add to my MUST READ list?!

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

What I'm Loving Wednesday...

 
Today I am linking up with Jamie for What I'm Loving Wendesday.  Lots to love this week :)
 
*I am loving that I am almost 18 weeks pregnant….
that means almost ½ way there.  It is just flying by.
 
 
your baby's the size of an onion!
Baby continues to beef up. Now she's about 5.1 inches long and weighs about 5.9 ounces.
(from thebump.com)
 
*I am loving that next week is our Fetal Ultra Sound…that means lots of time looking at our little #3 peanut…
 
*I am loving that we have just over 11 weeks until our Florida vacation!  I can’t wait….sun, fun, sand, swimming, family :).
Liv on the beach during our family vacation last April....
 
*I am loving my NEW CAR!  We just picked it up in Monday…I am still nervous to get it dirty.  The extra space will be awesome!
Isn't she a beauty?! :)
 
*OF COURSE I am always loving my sweet {growing} family....these kids are everything to me!
 
 
Head on over here and link up!
 

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Growing, growing, growing....

Olivia Kay is 2 years and 1 month old today.

First off, I can’t believe that my baby girl is 2.  It seems like just yesterday we were bring the sweet little pink bundle home from the hospital.  Today she is EVERY bit a two year old.

She is in to everything.  I do not remember these “terrible two’s” with Blake.  He was always a pretty well behaved toddler.  Liv is another story.  She is a spit-fire, and you cannot turn your head for one minute.

For example…on Saturday I was upstairs and Ryan and the kids were downstairs.  In a matter of no time at all, she climbed on the kitchen island, put the drain in the bar sink, turned on the water, and started flooding the kitchen.  It is always something with her!

She isn’t ALWAYS bad…she can be the sweetest, cuddly, loveable little thing around.  It makes it hard to be mad at her because she is so darn cute.

She still isn’t potty trained, but we are getting closer I think.  It is probably more my fault than hers…I need to take the time and really focus on it for a few days.

She also isn’t sleeping through the night…again, probably my fault.  I have tried to go with the cry-it-out method…but I have such a hard time.  I can’t lay there and sleep while she is crying…so it is quicker and easier for me to just get up, go in there, and sooth her.  I am working on it though…

Her vocabulary is growing like crazy.  She talks and talks.

She was in the 25th percentile for weight and 65th percentile for height at her 2 year well visit.  She did much better at the doctor this time…maybe her fears are starting to fade. 

She is OBSESSED with all thing “baby” (real and dolls).

Her hair is getting so long!  She is in 24 month and 2T clothing.

She will eat anything that you put in front of her…and she would eat all day long if we let her!

We just LOVE this little beauty beyond words…but I will admit, this is a HARD age.




~Love you Livi Kay!!~

Monday, January 14, 2013

Pregnancy #3- Week 17

This was supposed to be posted on Friday....I'm a little late :). Better late than never!



DATE: January 11, 2013

How far along: 17 weeks

Total Weight Gained: 0.8 pounds

Maternity Clothes: not yet…still in all of my regular clothes!

Sleep: Sleeping fine….now if I could just get Liv to sleep through the night we would be in business!!

Best Moment of the Week: Had a dr. appt. My doc did another U/S b/c my mom was there. Of course that is always fun to seeJ. (S)he is looking bigger!!

Movement: none yet that I can feel…really hoping to feel something soon

Food Craving: fruit. All of it.

Food Aversions: none really

Morning Sickness: nope..

Gender: IDK…not fining out this time. Fetal Survey Ultrasound is scheduled for the 23rd, so we have to stay strong!

Symptoms: Itchy skin.

What I miss: not much….

What I'm looking forward to: feeling
movement!
 
 





Thursday, January 10, 2013

Cooking up a storm!


As I mentioned here, one of my new year’s resolutions is to be more organized with meal prep, shopping, planning etc.  I am happy to report that this is going well (2nd week of the year…lol) and I am on dinner #4 for this week!!

Here’s what I have cooked!!

Monday: Baked Spaghetti

I use the recipe that I posted about here….of course it always changes a bit, depending on what I have in the cupboard.  This week it was penne noodles, since I was out of spaghetti noodles.  Always a hot though…and the leftovers are perfect for my hubby to take to work.
Spaghetti Bake recipe


Tuesday: Cheesy potatoes w/ Smoked Sausage

I tried this recipe that I found on Pinterest.  It was good…but maybe a little TOO cheesy (can’t believe I am even saying that).  Will make again, but will tone down the cheese next time!



 
Source: food.com via Annie on Pinterest


Wednesday: Italian Wedding Soup

No picture for this…but it’s good…and here is the recipe:

1 pound of sausage (I use Turkey sausage)
2 large boxes cans of chicken broth
½ box acini de pepe (8 oz) (I use a little less I think)
1 bunch of fresh spinach
Italian seasoning

Brown sausage, drain.  I sprinkle in some Italian seasoning (approx. 1 table spoon) add chicken broth.  Bring to boil, add ½ box of the acini de pepe and spinach.  Simmer on low for 20 minutes.
 
Thursday: Tacos
 
Tonight is taco night....can't go wrong there!!
 
 
~Yay for week 1...patting myself on the back.  Lets hope this trend sticks for a bit!~